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Turkey criticizes Dutch PM's remarks on Turkish community

Xinhua, September 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Turkey on Tuesday criticized remarks by the Dutch prime minister on the Turkish community in the Netherlands as not corresponding to his official status, local media reported.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, commenting on an incident on July 15 when a Turkish citizen beat a Dutch reporter in front of the Turkish Consulate in Rotterdam, reportedly said on Sunday that all Turks unable to blend in should go back to Turkey.

"At a time when statements and actions with xenophobic motives have intensified across Europe, this kind of unfortunate statements may damage our common efforts to ensure participation of the Turkish community in the Netherlands in every aspect of the social life of the country," Daily Sabah quoted Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tanju Bilgic as saying.

Bilgic urged the authorities in the Netherlands not to maintain a wrong and isolating attitude against the Turkish community, but to be inclusive and constructive toward its members who exercise their democratic rights within the legal system. Endit